Can tap

ABSTRACT

Disclosed are can taps for dispensing fluids from containers. The can tap has a housing with an inlet and an outlet, and a pin. The pin has a flow portion in fluidic communication with the inlet and the outlet of the housing. The pin may have a blunt depressor capable of operating a valve on the container. The flow portion of the pin allows fluid to flow between the housing and the pin. The can tap may have a gasket comprising a material having a hardness that prevents deformation of the container.

This application represents a national filing under 35 U.S.C. 371 ofInternational Application No. PCT/US13/36424 filed Apr. 12, 2013, andclaims priority of U.S. Provisional Application No. 61/676,593 filedJul. 27, 2012.

BACKGROUND INFORMATION

Field of the Disclosure

This invention relates to can taps for use with containers fordispensing materials. More specifically, this invention relates to cantaps for dispensing refrigerants from pressurized containers.

Description of the Related Art

Chlorofluorocarbon (CFC), hydrochlorofluorocarbon (HCFC),hydrofluorocarbon (HFC), and hydrofluoroolefin (HFO) compounds have beenused extensively as refrigerants, as well as propellants and cleaningsolvents. In response to global warming and ozone depletion concerns,new environmental pressures are continuously being exerted onrefrigerant service technicians. Refrigeration and air-conditioning(a/c) systems commonly lose refrigerants due to system fatigue,servicing, and/or normal system leakage. Therefore, refrigeration anda/c systems need to be re-charged by adding refrigerant. In theautomotive aftermarket, it is very common to recharge a/c systems withsmall (typically 12 oz. or 1 kg), pressurized refrigerant containers.Small pressurized containers are often used in the mobile aftermarketbecause of their portability and ability to be taken to the vehicle andre-charge the vehicle, even by do-it-yourself mechanics.

Small aftermarket refrigerant containers are typically provided assingle use type containers. These containers normally have a thin metalseal that is destroyed in liberating the refrigerant. A can tap having aneedle-shaped pin (which may be referred to as a “piercing tap”) piercesthe thin metal seal and allows the contents to be dispensed. An exampleof such a piercing tap for use with such a can is shown in FIG. 12.Piercing tap 1200 has pin 1220 having needle-shaped tip 1226 thatpierces the thin metal seal of a can. An example of a can with a thinmetal seal that can be pierced with a piercing tap is shown in FIG. 13.

The cans and can taps presently on the market have severaldisadvantages. Due to the thin metal seal on the can which must bepierced and ultimately destroyed to dispense the contents, the cancannot be resealed. Therefore, the cans can only be used once beforethey are discarded. If all of the contents are not used, the excessrefrigerant is wasted. Not only does the excess refrigerant representlost money, but the excess refrigerant is generally released into theatmosphere, which may have environmental implications.

Another issue often encountered with the piercing-type can taps(piercing taps) is inconsistent and/or stopped flow. If theneedle-shaped pin is inserted too far into the can, the needle pin willblock the flow of the contents out of the can. If the pin is notinserted far enough, the hole in the metal seal may be small andrestrict the flow of material out of the can. In typical use, the pinmust be inserted and then drawn completely out to achieve optimum flow.However, when technicians actuate the can tap, for example by turning ahandle, and begin to remove the pin out of the can, the refrigerantnormally starts to flow, so the technician may not fully dis-engage thepin. Finding the best flow or “sweet spot” requires practice to identifywhen the contents are being properly dispensed.

Cans that are self-sealing (i.e., have a seal that is capable ofresealing itself) have recently been introduced in the automotiveaftermarket. There are two versions of self-sealing cans. These includeexternal spring-actuated and internal spring-actuated plug typeself-sealing cans (which may be referred to as external plug can(s) andinternal plug can(s), respectively, singular and plural). The externalplug can is well known and there are many taps and/or tap assembliesthat are used to liberate product within an external plug can. Anexample of an external plug can is shown in FIG. 14.

The internal spring-actuated plug type self-sealing can is a newerdesign. An example of an internal plug can is shown in FIG. 15. At thistime, there are no can taps that are specifically designed to work withthe new internal plug cans. The seal on these cans have aspring-actuated plug that remains in a sealed position until the plug isdepressed. The internal plug can has several advantages over theexternal plug can. The internal plug design is more robust and may beless prone to damage as the plug portion is contained within can and notexternal to can. The internal plug can design may also have generallyhigher flow rate versus the external plug can.

Currently available piercing can taps can be used to release thecontents of an internal plug can, but have several drawbacks. First, theneedle-shaped pin may damage the plug and/or the seal and may destroythe can's ability to release refrigerant. Second, piercing can taps alsoprovide an inconsistent flow rate similar to the previous can designs.Third, depending on the material of construction of the needle-shapedpin, some pins cannot even sufficiently depress a spring-actuated plugto liberate refrigerant.

It is therefore desirable to develop a system that may overcome one ormore of the disadvantages of the currently available products.

It may be desirable to provide a robust can and tap system that iscapable of being resealed. Having a robust resealable can and tap systemmay allow for less material being wasted by allowing the entire contentsof the can to be used for the intended purpose. Less waste may also leadto lower costs and less environmental impact.

It may also be desirable to provide a system that is easier to useand/or may yield more consistent results. For example, it may bedesirable to provide a system that provides a high and/or consistentflow rate without the need to find the “sweet spot” of the pin.

SUMMARY

In at least one embodiment of the present disclosure, a can tapcomprises:

-   -   a housing having a body, a lower end having an inlet, an upper        end having an outlet, a throat between the lower end and the        upper end;    -   a pin located within the housing having an upper end secured to        the housing body, a lower end having a blunt depressor suitable        for contact with a can having a top in which is positioned a        valve, wherein the blunt depressor is capable of operating the        valve of the can, and a flow portion between the upper end and        the lower end of the pin located within the housing throat        wherein the flow portion allows fluid to flow between the        housing and the pin; and    -   a tap outlet in fluid communication with housing outlet at the        upper end of the housing.

In accordance with at least one embodiment of the present disclosure, acan tap comprises:

-   -   a housing having a body, a lower end having an inlet, an upper        end having an outlet, a throat between the lower end and the        upper end;    -   a pin located within the housing having an upper end secured to        the housing body, a lower end having a blunt depressor suitable        for contact with a can having a top in which is positioned a        valve, wherein the blunt depressor is capable of operating the        valve of the can, and a flow portion between the upper end and        the lower end of the pin located within the housing throat        wherein the flow portion allows fluid to flow between the        housing and the pin and wherein the flow portion is in fluid        communication with the housing inlet and the housing outlet; and    -   a tap outlet in fluid communication with housing outlet at the        upper end of the housing; and    -   a gasket positioned adjacent to the housing at or near the        housing inlet,

wherein the gasket comprises a material having a hardness ranging fromabout 70 durometers to about 100 durometers.

The foregoing general description and the following detailed descriptionare exemplary and explanatory only and are not restrictive of theinvention, as defined in the appended claims.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 shows a partial cutaway view of a can tap as disclosed herein.

FIG. 2 shows a partial cutaway view of a can tap in a closed stateaffixed to a can as disclosed herein.

FIG. 3A shows a partial cutaway view of a can tap in an open stateaffixed to a can as disclosed herein.

FIG. 3B shows the can tap of FIG. 3A rotated 90 degrees.

FIG. 4 shows a cutaway view of a can tap pin having solid depressor asdisclosed herein.

FIG. 5 shows a cutaway view of a can tap pin having a ring-shapeddepressor as disclosed herein.

FIGS. 6A and 6B show two views of a can tap pin having a flow portionwith a flattened profile as disclosed herein.

FIGS. 7A and 7B show two views of a pin of a can tap pin having aflattened flow portion and a cylindrical flow portion as disclosedherein.

FIGS. 8A and 8B show two views of a can tap pin having a flow portionwith a flattened profile and a squared-off shoulder profile as disclosedherein.

FIGS. 9A and 9B show two views of a can tap pin having shaft, shoulderand flow portion rotationally symmetrical around the central axis of thepin as disclosed herein.

FIGS. 10A-10E show different depressor geometries as disclosed herein.

FIG. 11 shows an enlarged view of a pin of a can tap as disclosedherein.

FIG. 12 shows a partial cutaway view of an existing can tap of the priorart.

FIG. 13 shows an existing can having a metal seal of the prior art.

FIG. 14 shows an existing external spring-actuated plug self-sealing canof the prior art.

FIG. 15 shows an existing internal spring-actuated plug self-sealing canof the prior art.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

Before addressing details of embodiments described below, some terms aredefined or clarified.

As used herein, the terms “can,” “container,” “vessel,” “bottle,” andvariations thereof, are used interchangeably to describe an item used tohold a fluid. In at least some embodiments, the fluid contents may bepressurized. For use with the can tap disclosed herein, the can has atop in which a valve is positioned, with the can capable of beingaffixed to a suitable can tap. The valve may be a self-sealing valve andcapable of having a closed or sealed position and an open position.

As used herein, the terms “tap” or “can tap” refers to a mechanicaldevice capable of opening a container and dispensing the contentstherein therefrom.

As used herein, the term “pin” refers to the portion of the tap thatcreates the opening in the container through which the contents may flowfrom the container through the tap. The term “depressor” refers to theportion of the pin that presses against the seal of the can when the tapis in use. The phrase “capable of operating a valve of a can” means thatwhen the tap is affixed to a can, the depressor, when actuated, iscapable of opening and closing a valve by actuating (moving) the pin,for example, turning a handle, so that upon sufficient descent of thepin, the valve changes from a closed position to an open position. Theclosed position is the position where fluid is not being dispensed, andthe open position is the position where fluids may be dispensed.

As used herein, the term “blunt” refers to a surface that is devoid of asharp point, wherein a sharp point is one defined as having an angleless than 90 degrees.

In the FIGURES, identical features are identified using the same numberand similar features may be identified with similar numbers.

In accordance with at least one embodiment of the present disclosure, acan tap comprises a housing, a pin having a depressor, and a gasket,wherein the gasket comprises an elastic material having a hardness thatminimizes deformation of a can.

In at least one embodiment, the pin has a flow portion that allows fluidto flow between the housing and the pin.

In accordance with at least one embodiment of the present disclosure, atleast part of the flow portion may have a dimension (width) in a firstdirection perpendicular to the central axis of the pin that is greaterthan (e.g., at least twice as great as) a dimension (width) in a seconddirection perpendicular to the central axis of the pin. The firstdirection may be, for example, rotated 90 degrees from the seconddirection. In such embodiments, at least a part of the flow portion mayhave a flattened surface that allows fluid to pass over the flattenedsurface between the flow portion and the housing.

In accordance with at least one embodiment of the present disclosure, atleast part of the flow portion may be rotationally symmetrical aroundthe central axis of the pin. The flow portion may be cylindrical.

In at least one embodiment, the pin shaft and the flow portion are bothcylindrical. The diameter of the flow portion may be smaller than thediameter of the pin shaft.

In accordance with at least one embodiment of the present disclosure, atleast part of the flow portion may have a dimension (width) in a firstdirection perpendicular to the central axis of the pin that is greater(e.g., at least twice as great) than a dimension (width) in a seconddirection perpendicular to the central axis of the pin, and at leastpart of the flow portion may be rotationally symmetrical around thecentral axis of the pin. At least part of the flow portion may have aflattened surface. At least part of the flow portion may be cylindrical.

According to at least one embodiment of the present disclosure, a cantap may comprise a housing and a pin and a tap outlet. The housing mayhave a body, a lower end having an inlet, an upper end having an outlet,and a throat between the lower end and the upper end. The pin may havean upper end secured to the housing body, a lower end having a bluntdepressor suitable for contact with a can, the can having a top in whichis positioned a valve, and a flow portion between the upper end and thelower end of the pin. The blunt depressor is capable of operating thevalve of the can. The flow portion allows fluid to flow between thehousing and the pin and wherein the flow portion is in fluidcommunication with the housing inlet and the housing outlet.

In an embodiment of the present disclosure, the can tap can be affixedto and detached from a can at least about 5 times without deforming thecan. In certain embodiments, the can tap can be attached and detachedfrom a can more than about 5 times without deforming the can, forexample, more than about 10 times.

In an embodiment of the present disclosure, the can tap is used with acan containing a fluid and the can tap is capable of delivering aconstant flow rate of fluid of at least about 2.0 g/sec when the can hasa starting pressure of 662 kPa (96 psia). In another embodiment, the cantap can deliver a constant flow rate of fluid of at least about 3.0g/sec or at least about 5.0 g/sec when the can has a starting pressureof 662 kPa (96 psia).

In at least one embodiment, the flow portion of the pin is a hollowshaft that has at least one opening to allow fluid to pass through thehollow shaft to the housing outlet.

In at least one embodiment, the flow portion of the pin is or has ahollow shaft having one or more openings, for example, openings along aside of the pin at the lower end of the pin adjacent to or near thedepressor, in fluid communication with the housing inlet and housingoutlet, to allow fluid to pass into and out of the hollow shaft.

The hollow shaft may have one or more openings along the shaft at alocation remote from the depressor which may, for example, be proximalto a housing outlet, to allow fluid flow into and out of the pin hollowshaft to the housing and housing outlet and subsequently through the tapoutlet.

The pin may have or terminate in a solid depressor that may contact aplug of a can seal. The seal/plug may seal a valve positioned in the canto prevent fluid from escaping a sealed can.

In embodiments where the pin has a hollow shaft, the pin may terminatein an open depressor such that the depressor is ring shaped and fluidflows through the center of the depressor into the hollow shaft, whichis in fluid communication with the housing inlet.

As one of ordinary skill in the art would recognize, the flow portion ofthe pin may have any geometry that allows fluid to flow between the canand the tap outlet. One of ordinary skill in the art will also recognizethat the geometry may be designed to provide a desired flow rate. Forexample, when the flow portion of the pin is a hollow shaft, a largerflow portion may provide for a greater flow rate, or a smaller flowportion may be desirable to result in a lower flow rate, while dependenton other factors, such as, for example, the relative dimensions of thehousing throat and the internal diameter of the hollow shaft.

Similarly, one of ordinary skill in the art would also recognize thatthe geometry of the flow portion may be designed such that it promotes aparticular fluid behavior, such as through the use of baffles orprojections that cause greater mixing of the fluid through moreturbulent flow.

According to the present disclosure, the depressor has a shape such thatit may open a can, such as, for example open a valve, on a can tothereby open a can. The valve may be a self-sealing valve on a can. Thedepressor may be designed to minimize and/or prevent damage to the canor valve. For example, the depressor may have a relatively flat portionthat contacts the valve to evenly distribute pressure. As one ofordinary skill in the art will recognize, the depressor should bedesigned such that it opens the can, that is opens the valve, such as aself-sealing valve, while also allowing fluid to exit from the can.

The depressor of the present disclosure may have a blunt surface thatcontacts the valve of the can. The blunt surface may be flat, curved,faceted, or dully pointed (i.e., having an angle at the tip of greaterthan 90 degrees). The depressor may have curved or straight sides. Thedepressor may also have chamfered or rounded edges.

In at least one embodiment, the depressor may have a bulbous shape.

In accordance with at least one embodiment of the present disclosure,the pin may further have a structure positioned along the flow portionof the pin to limit the distance the pin may descend when the pin isengaged, that is, a pin limiter. The tap housing may have a stop that isengaged by the pin limiter. For example, the pin limiter may haveshoulders that engage the stop. The stop may be positioned along thehousing throat at or near the housing inlet. The stop may be, forexample, an annular protrusion that projects outward from the housing ator near the housing inlet. A pin limiter having at least one shoulderand the stop may be sized such that at least one shoulder contacts thestop to limit the distance the pin can descend. The pin limiter may bepositioned to provide an optimum opening between the pin and thehousing.

The tap of the present disclosure may also comprise a gasket wherein thegasket is positioned adjacent to the housing or at or near the housinginlet, and is further positioned so as to be capable of contacting a canwhen the tap is affixed to a can. The gasket may provide a seal betweenthe can and the tap. Additionally, the gasket may be used to minimize orprevent deformation of the can when the tap is placed on the can.

The gasket may comprise an elastic material (e.g., elastomer) that maycushion the top of the can. A material that is too soft may compress tooeasily and offer little protection to the can. A material that is toohard will not compress enough and will similar afford little protectionto the can. The gasket may comprise a material that at least partiallybut not completely compresses when the can tap is placed on the can.Compression may be, for example, at least about 1%, 5%, 10%, 20%, 30%,or 50%, or more, but is less than 100%, for example, compression may beless than about 90%, 75%, 60%.

Examples of materials that may be used for the gasket may include ABS,acetal, epoxy, fluorocarbons, PTFE, ETFE, PVDF, ionomer, Polyamide 6/6Nylon, polyarylate, polycarbonate, polyester, PBT, PET, polyetherimide,polyethylene, polyphenylene oxide, polyphenylene sulfide, polypropylene,polystyrene, polysulfone, polyvinyl chloride, Buna N, Hypalon 48, andThiokol FA.

The gasket may comprise a material having a hardness ranging from about70 durometers to about 100 durometers. In at least one embodiment, thegasket comprises a material having a hardness ranging from about 80durometers to about 90 durometers. The gasket may be selected from amaterial having a hardness that at least partially compresses, but doesnot fully compress, when the tap is mated to the can.

The size of the gasket may also be adjusted based on the material usedso that the tap does not deform the can when the tap is attached to thecan.

The tap may comprise any known material that is able to withstand thepressure of the can and that is resistant to the fluid contained withinthe can. Materials may include, for example, stainless steel, galvanizedsteel, aluminum, brass, bronze, plastic, etc. Pressures within the cansmay be at least 662 kPa (96 psia), such as at least 689 kPa (100 psia),at least 758 kPa (110 psia), at least 827 kPa (120 psia), or higher. Inat least one embodiment, the material comprising the tap should bestrong enough to withstand such pressures up to at least 1.38 MPa (200psia).

An exemplary can tap is shown in FIG. 1. In FIG. 1 and in the subsequentfigures, the housing is shown in a cutaway view to expose the pinlocated within the housing. Can tap 100 comprises housing 110, gasket114, stop 116, pin 120, and tap outlet 130. Housing 100 has a housingbody 111 and a nut 112 that secures pin 120 to housing body 111. Housing110 further has a throat 113, which is in fluid communication withhousing outlet 117. Stop 116 is an annular protrusion that acts toprevent pin 120 from descending too far into a can (not shown). Threads115 are capable of matingly engaging a can, which can has threads thatconform to threads 115 of gasket 114.

Pin 120 has handle 121 that can be turned to raise or lower pin shaft122, which engages housing 110 through threads 123. A fluid-tightengagement between housing 110 and pin 120 is maintained through twowashers 128 and o-ring 127 mounted on shaft 122. Shoulders 124 are sizedso as to engage with stop 116 to limit descent of pin 120. Pin 120further has flow portion 125 which is narrower than shaft 122. Pin 120terminates in depressor 126.

Can tap 100 comprises tap outlet 130 that can accommodate a hose orother connector through threaded portion 131 to carry fluid from a can.

FIG. 2 shows can tap 100 of FIG. 1 affixed to can 200 and engaged withself-sealing valve 210 of can 200. Self-sealing valve 210 is shown inthe closed or sealed position, i.e., valve 210 has not been actuated bytap 100. Can top 201 has threaded portion 202 that engages threads 115of housing 110. Top 203 of valve 210 has upraised crown 204 that has anopening through which depressor 126 of pin 120 can pass. O-ring 211seals the top of valve 210 and plug 214 presses against o-ring 211 withthe aid of spring 216 to prevent fluid from escaping can 200 when notengaged by can tap 100. In the example shown in FIG. 2, plug 214 hasstop 215 that is a raised annular projection that contacts o-ring 211.Valve body 212 has openings 213 through which fluid can pass when plug214 is depressed.

Gasket 114, handle 121, pin shaft 122, and tap outlet 130 are the sameas discussed for FIG. 1.

FIGS. 3A and 3B show can tap 100 of FIGS. 1 and 2, but for FIGS. 3A and3B, in contrast to FIG. 2, self-sealing valve 210 is shown in the openposition wherein handle 121 of pin 120 has been turned to cause pin 120to descend.

In FIG. 3A, depressor 126 has engaged and depressed plug 214 bycompressing spring 216. Depression of plug 214 disengages stop 215 fromo-ring 211, allowing fluid to pass from can 200 through valve 210 andinto tap 100. Flow portion 125 of pin 120 allows fluid to enter throat113 of housing 110, and fluid then exits through tap outlet 130.

In the open position as shown in FIG. 3A, shoulder 124 of pin 120engages stop 116 of housing 110, preventing pin 120 from descendingfurther into valve 210.

FIG. 3B shows can tap 100 of FIGS. 1, 2 and 3A. In contrast to FIG. 3A,FIG. 3B shows self-sealing valve 210 and can tap 100 of FIG. 3A rotatedby 90 degrees. In FIG. 3B, flow portion 125 is shown having a flattenedportion that provides a passageway for fluid to flow. As one of ordinaryskill in the art would recognize, the thinnest dimension of flow portion125 directly affects both the maximum possible fluid flow as well as thedurability/strength of can tap 100. The thinner the dimension of theflow portion, the greater amount of fluid can pass. However, thinnerflow portions also result in a weaker structure, which may lead toearlier pin failure due to bending or breaking. A flow portion may bedesigned to withstand the pressure exerted when depressing the plug ofthe valve while maximizing the amount of fluid that may pass.

FIGS. 4 and 5 show alternative embodiments of a pin in accordance withthe present disclosure.

In FIG. 4, pin 420 has hollow shaft 422 that terminates in a soliddepressor 426. Openings 431 are located in hollow shaft 422 adjacent todepressor 426 to allow fluid to enter into hollow shaft 422. Fluid canthen exit through opening 432, which is remote from depressor 426 and influid communication with the housing outlet (not shown).

FIG. 5 shows pin 520 having a hollow shaft 522 that terminates in anopen depressor 526, which has a ring-shaped cross-section. Fluid entershollow shaft 522 through depressor 526 and can exit through opening 532,which is remote from depressor 526 and in fluid communication with thehousing outlet (not shown).

FIGS. 6-9 show further exemplary embodiments of pins in accordance withthe present disclosure.

FIGS. 6A and 6B show two illustrations of the same pin. FIG. 6A isrotated 90 degrees from the position of FIG. 6B. Pin 620 has shaft 622which tapers through shoulder 624 to flow portion 625. Pin 620terminates in depressor 626. Shoulder 624 may be sized to contact a stop(not shown) within the can tap (not shown) to control the extent towhich pin 620 may descend into a valve (not shown) on a can (not shown).Flow portion 625 has a flattened profile with a width in a firstdirection perpendicular to the central axis of pin 620 that is greaterthan the width in a second direction perpendicular to the central axisof pin 620 wherein the first direction is 90 degrees from the seconddirection. As shown, the width of flow portion 625 is greater in theview shown in FIG. 6A than is the width of flow portion 625 in the viewshown in FIG. 6B.

FIGS. 7A and 7B show two illustrations of the same pin. FIG. 7A isrotated 90 degrees from the position of FIG. 7B. Pin 720 has shaft 722which tapers through shoulder 724 to flow portion 725 a and 725 b. Pin720 has a flow portion divided into two distinct parts, a flat flowportion 725 a and a cylindrical flow portion 725 b. Flat flow portion725 a may be adjacent to the shaft 722, as shown, or flat flow portion725 a may be adjacent to depressor 726 (not shown). The position of flatflow portion 725 a and cylindrical flow portion 725 b, may be chosenbased on the shape of a plug in a valve of a can and/or housing of a cantap. The relative size of the flat and cylindrical flow portions may beadjusted to optimize the desired flow rate of the fluid. For example, ifthe flat flow portion was made larger with respect to the cylindricalflow portion, the flow rate may be increased. Conversely, if the flatflow portion was made smaller with respect to the cylindrical flowportion, the flow rate may be decreased.

FIGS. 8A and 8B show two illustrations of the same pin. FIG. 8A isrotated 90 degrees from the position of FIG. 8B. In FIGS. 8A and 8B, pin820 has a shape similar to that of pin 620 shown in FIGS. 6A and 6B. Pin820 has shaft 822 which tapers through shoulder 824 to flow portion 825.However the shape of shoulder 824 is different than the shape ofshoulder 624. Shoulder 824 has a squared-off profile rather than anangled profile. Pin 820 terminates in depressor 826.

FIGS. 9A and 9B show two illustrations of the same pin. FIG. 9A isrotated 90 degrees from the position of FIG. 9B. FIGS. 9A and 9B showpin 920 wherein shaft 922, shoulder 924, and flow portion 925 are allrotationally symmetrical around the central axis of pin 920. FIG. 9B, isidentical to FIG. 9A, meaning to show pin 920 that the profile is thesame on all sides of pin 920. Pin 920 terminates in depressor 926.

FIGS. 10A-10E show various depressor geometries. These examples ofdepressor geometries are non-limiting and exemplary only of selectedvarieties of shapes the depressor may have. Although the depressorsshown have a cylindrical cross-section, the cross-section may have anygeometry and may be selected based on the size and/or shape of the valveor other criteria.

Depressor 1026A shown in FIG. 10A has an angled top 1026Aa, verticalsides 1026Ab, and an angled bottom 1026Ac.

Depressor 1026B shown in FIG. 10B has a rounded shape.

Depressor 1026C shown in FIG. 10C is similar to depressor 1026A, havingangled top 1026Ca and vertical sides 1026Cb. Bottom 1026Cc of depressor1026C is flat.

Depressor 1026D shown in FIG. 10D has vertical sides and a flat bottom.The edges have not been chamfered.

Depressor 1026E shown in FIG. 10E has angled top 1026Ea, vertical sides1026Eb, and rounded bottom 1026Ec.

FIG. 11 shows an enlarged version of a pin in accordance with anembodiment of the present disclosure. Pin 1120 is an exemplary pin for acan tap designed for use with a can of pressurized refrigerant. One ofordinary skill in the art will recognize that any or all of thedimensions may be changed to conform to the desired use of the can tap.Depressor 1126 is divided into three regions, a top part 1126 a, amiddle part 1126 b, and a bottom part 1126 c. Depressor 1126 has alength J ranging from about 2 mm to about 3 mm, such as from about 2 mmto about 2.5 mm. Top part 1126 a and bottom part 1126 b, each have alength C and A, respectively, of about 0.5 mm to about 0.75 mm, andmiddle part 1126 b has a length B of about 1 mm to about 2 mm. In thevarious embodiments shown in FIGS. 10A-10E, it can be seen that any oneof the individual parts, that is, top part, middle part, and bottompart, may range from about 0 mm to about 3 mm. Diameter G of depressor1126 ranges from about 2.5 mm to about 4.5 mm.

Flow portion 1125 of pin 1120 has length D ranging from about 4 mm toabout 7 mm, such as, for example, from about 5 mm to about 6.5 mm. Flowportion 1125 has a maximum dimension H perpendicular to the central axisof pin 1120 ranging from about 1.5 mm to about 2.5 mm.

Shoulder 1124 of pin 1120 has length K ranging from about 3 mm to about4.5 mm. Angled portion 1124 a of shoulder 1124 has a length E of about1.5 mm to about 2 mm, and transition portion 1124 b of shoulder 1124that transitions from flow portion 1125 to shaft 1122 has a length F ofabout 1 mm to about 2 mm.

Shaft 1122 of pin 1120 has a diameter ranging from about 3 mm to about 5mm.

One of ordinary skill in the art will recognize that the geometry of theflow portion may comprise any known geometry and is not limited tocylindrical shapes, as depicted in the drawings. Other shapes may beused depending on the desired flow rate of the fluid, the geometry ofthe tap housing and/or the valve, the machinery and/or method used tofabricate the pin, etc.

In accordance with various embodiments of the present disclosure, thedepressor may have any number of shapes. In at least one embodiment, thedepressor may be shaped such that it avoids damaging the top of the canor the valve. For example, a depressor may be shaped such that it doesnot contact an upraised crown on a can top, such as, for example, asshown in FIG. 2. Further, the depressor may be shaped such that itclears an o-ring that seals the top of a valve without damaging theo-ring when the depressor descends through the valve or when thedepressor ascends through the valve on removal. Damage to the top of acan or valve (e.g., the o-ring) may lead to premature failure of thevalve and cause the can to leak or to prevent the tap from opening thevalve.

FIGS. 12-15 are illustrative of prior art and are described hereinabove.

EXAMPLES

The concepts described herein will be further described in the followingexamples, which do not limit the scope of the invention described in theclaims.

Example 1

The exemplary pin 1120 of FIG. 11 was used in experiments to measure theflow rate of a can tap to dispense refrigerant from a pressurized can,wherein the pressure within the can was 662 kPa (96 psi). The flow rateranged from about 1.7 g/sec to about 2.2 g/sec. The average measuredflow rate was about 2.1 g/sec.

Example 2

In Example 2, the pin used in the can tap had the design shown in FIGS.8A and 8B. Under the same conditions as Example 1, the flow rate rangedfrom about 0.6 g/sec to about 1.8 g/sec.

Example 3

In Example 3, the pin used in the can tap had the design shown in FIGS.7A and 7B. Under the same conditions as Example 1, the flow rate rangedfrom about 1.0 g/sec to about 2.3 g/sec.

Comparative Example

A piercing-style can tap, as shown in FIG. 12, was used under the sameconditions as Example 1. The flow rate ranged from 0 g/sec to about 0.8g/sec. The piercing-style can tap rendered the valve unusable.

Many aspects and embodiments have been described above and are merelyexemplary and not limiting. After reading this specification, skilledartisans appreciate that other aspects and embodiments are possiblewithout departing from the scope of the invention.

Other features and benefits of any one or more of the embodiments willbe apparent from the preceding detailed description, and from theclaims.

Note that not all of the activities described above in the generaldescription or the examples are required, that a portion of a specificactivity may not be required, and that one or more further activitiesmay be performed in addition to those described. Still further, theorder in which activities are listed are not necessarily the order inwhich they are performed.

In the foregoing specification, the concepts have been described withreference to specific embodiments. However, one of ordinary skill in theart appreciates that various modifications and changes can be madewithout departing from the scope of the invention as set forth in theclaims below. Accordingly, the specification and figures are to beregarded in an illustrative rather than a restrictive sense, and allsuch modifications are intended to be included within the scope ofinvention.

Benefits, other advantages, and solutions to problems have beendescribed above with regard to specific embodiments. However, thebenefits, advantages, solutions to problems, and any feature(s) that maycause any benefit, advantage, or solution to occur or become morepronounced are not to be construed as a critical, required, or essentialfeature of any or all the claims.

It is to be appreciated that certain features are, for clarity,described herein in the context of separate embodiments, may also beprovided in combination in a single embodiment. Conversely, variousfeatures that are, for brevity, described in the context of a singleembodiment, may also be provided separately or in any subcombination.Further, reference to values stated in ranges include each and everyvalue within that range.

What is claimed is:
 1. A can and tap system for dispensing refrigerantscomprising: a can tap comprising: a housing having a body, a lower endhaving an inlet, an upper end having an outlet, a throat between thelower end and the upper end; a pin located within the housing having anupper end secured to the housing body, a lower end having a bluntdepressor suitable for contact with a can having a top in which ispositioned a self-sealing valve, wherein the blunt depressor is capableof operating the valve of the can, and a flow portion between the upperend and the lower end of the pin located within the housing throatwherein the flow portion allows fluid to flow between the housing andthe pin wherein the pin has a rotatable handle and a gasket mountedaround the pin maintaining a fluid-tight engagement between the pin andhousing and the pin further comprises a pin limiter having at least oneshoulder and the housing further comprises a stop positioned along ahousing throat at the housing inlet wherein the at least one shoulderand the stop are sized such that the at least one shoulder contacts thestop to limit a distance the pin can descend when the pin is engaged; agasket positioned adjacent to the housing at the housing inlet andfurther positioned so as to be capable of contacting a can when the tapis affixed to a can; a tap outlet in fluid communication with thehousing outlet at the upper end of the housing; and wherein the can taphas a threaded portion which is affixed to a can through a threadedportion of the top of the can, wherein the can has an upraised crownwith an opening through which depressor of the pin can pass, wherein thevalve has an o-ring seal which seals the top of the valve and a plugwhich presses against the o-ring seal; and wherein the can and tapassembly can be attached and detached from a can.
 2. The can and tapsystem of claim 1, wherein the flow portion of the pin has a dimensionin a first direction perpendicular to the central axis of the pin thatis greater than a dimension in a second direction perpendicular to thecentral axis of the pin.
 3. The can and tap system of claim 2, whereinthe flow portion of the pin has a dimension in a first directionperpendicular to the central axis of the pin that is at least twice asgreat as a dimension in a second direction perpendicular to the centralaxis of the pin.
 4. The can and tap system of claim 3 wherein the firstdirection is rotated 90 degrees from the second direction.
 5. The canand tap system of claim 2, wherein the flow portion has a flattenedsurface that allows fluid to pass over the flattened surface between theflow portion and the housing.
 6. The can and tap system of claim 1,wherein the flow portion is rotationally symmetrical around the centralaxis of the pin.
 7. The can and tap system of claim 6 wherein the flowportion is cylindrical.
 8. The can and tap system of claim 1 wherein atleast part of the flow portion has a dimension in a first directionperpendicular to the central axis of the pin that is greater than adimension in a second direction perpendicular to the central axis of thepin and at least part of the flow portion is rotationally symmetricalaround the central axis of the pin.
 9. The can and tap system of claim 8wherein at least part of the flow portion has a flattened surface and atleast part of the flow portion is cylindrical.
 10. The can and tapsystem of claim 1, wherein the gasket comprises an elastic material thatat least partially but not completely compresses when the can tap isplaced on the can.
 11. The can and tap system of claim 1, wherein thecan tap is capable of delivering a constant flow rate of at least 2.0g/sec when the can has a starting pressure of 662 kPa (96 psia).
 12. Thecan and tap system of claim 1, wherein the depressor has a blunt surfacefor contacting with a valve of a can.
 13. The can and tap system ofclaim 12, wherein the blunt surface of the depressor is flat, curved,faceted, or dully pointed.
 14. The can and tap system of claim 12 or 13wherein the depressor has straight sides.
 15. The can and tap system ofclaim 12 or 13 wherein the depressor has curved sides.
 16. The can andtap assembly of claim 1 wherein the can is an internal spring-actuatedplug self-sealing can.
 17. A can tap for dispensing refrigerants frompressurized containers comprising: a housing having a body, a lower endhaving an inlet, an upper end having an outlet, a throat between thelower end and the upper end; a pin located within the housing having anupper end secured to the housing body, a lower end having a bluntdepressor suitable for contact with a can having a top in which ispositioned a self-sealing valve, wherein the blunt depressor is capableof operating the valve of the can, and a flow portion between the upperend and the lower end of the pin located within the housing throatwherein the flow portion allows fluid to flow between the housing andthe pin and wherein the flow portion is in fluid communication with thehousing inlet and the housing outlet; and a tap outlet in fluidcommunication with the housing outlet at the upper end of the housing;and a gasket positioned adjacent to the housing at or near the housinginlet, wherein the gasket comprises a material having a hardness ranging80 durometers to 90 durometers; wherein the can tap has a threadedportion which is affixed to a can through a threaded portion of the topof the can, wherein the can has an upraised crown with an openingthrough which depressor of the pin can pass, wherein the valve has ano-ring seal which seals the top of the valve and a plug which pressesagainst the o-ring seal; wherein the can tap can be attached anddetached from a can; and wherein the pressurized container is aninternal spring-actuated plug self-sealing can.
 18. The can tap of claim17, wherein the flow portion of the pin has a dimension in a firstdirection perpendicular to the central axis of the pin that is greaterthan a dimension in a second direction perpendicular to the central axisof the pin.
 19. The can tap of claim 18, wherein the flow portion has aflattened surface that allows fluid to pass over the flattened surfacebetween the flow portion and the housing.
 20. The can tap of claim 17,wherein the flow portion is rotationally symmetrical around the centralaxis of the pin.
 21. The can tap of claim 17, wherein the pin has a pinlimiter positioned along the flow portion of the pin for limiting thedistance the pin may descend when the pin is engaged.
 22. The can tap ofclaim 21, wherein the pin limiter is at least one shoulder and thehousing further comprises a stop positioned along the housing throat ator near the housing inlet wherein the at least one shoulder and the stopare sized such that the at least one shoulder contacts the stop to limita distance the pin can descend when the pin is engaged.